Elizabeth Pfriem, former President of the Post Publishing Co., speaks during groundbreaking ceremonies for a major expansion at the St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport in 2007. The hospital's new cancer center was named in Mrs. Pfriem's honor. Pfriem died on Saturday, April 1, 2017. less

Elizabeth Pfriem, former President of the Post Publishing Co., speaks during groundbreaking ceremonies for a major expansion at the St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport in 2007. The hospital's new cancer ... more

Mayor John Fabrizi greets Elizabeth Pfriem at the groundbreaking ceremonies for a major expansion at the St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport in 2007. The hospital's new cancer center was named in Mrs. Pfriem's honor. Pfriem died on Saturday, April 1, 2017. less

Mayor John Fabrizi greets Elizabeth Pfriem at the groundbreaking ceremonies for a major expansion at the St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport in 2007. The hospital's new cancer center was named in Mrs. ... more

A ground breaking ceremony for a mojor expansion takes place in front on St. Vincent's Medical Center. Pictured left to right are Medical Staff President Edwin Levine, Medical Center President and CEO Susan ... more

“We are getting ready to open a new hybrid operating room that was scheduled to open on April 18th — and Betty Pfriem was the lead donor for that,” said John Cappiello, a spokesman for Bridgeport Hospital.

And there were many thousands over the years who enjoyed the Greater Bridgeport Symphony's annual Outdoor Pops Concert at Fairfield University, an event that was largely made possible by her support.

Many of Pfriem’s gifts were made anonymously as well.

Elizabeth “Betty” Pfriem, 92, took over as publisher of the Bridgeport Post — the predecessor of the Connecticut Post — and The Telegram after her husband, John Pfriem, died in 1983. She held this position until 1988 when the papers were sold to the Thomson Corporation. The Post is now owned by Hearst Connecticut Media.

“Betty was just a great lady,” said retired Post editor and publisher Robert Laska. “She supported just about every not-for-profit organization in the region and when she was publisher, she really cared for the employees. She was, after all, a former employee herself before she married John.”

She preferred the title "president" to that of "publisher,” in deference to her late husband, and to her unfounded initial doubts about her ability to succeed him. After taking over she immediately embarked on a major effort to modernize the operation at 410 State Street, Bridgeport, the Post’s building. At the time of her husband’s death, the newsroom and most of the other offices looked more like something from the set of a 1930s movie, its walls painted in two tones of green, one light, one dark. She also was in charge when the paper made its first serious moves into computers.

Pfriem led a private life, almost never granting requests for interviews. She lived for years in her home on Pequot Avenue in Fairfield’s Southport section. Funeral services will be announced later.